Stampede!

Oh boy! This group has found their ON button! Getting in and out of the puppy pen without the herd making a break for it is getting much more difficult. They are at the age they have learned how to negotiate getting over the gate. Some simply fly over it already. Yikes!

Weekly pedicures continue, though they all think I am offering myself up as their personal chew toy during this time. Bite inhibition, here we come!

They are getting around REALLY well now. 

More Adventure Box Time (Video link)

Girls

Boys

They are all party animals these days. Their photos are so serious above, don't be fooled!!

They still nurse for a hot second, but prefer their big dog food. Check out the video link of this (they sound like a herd of buffalo, if buffalo happened to hang out in a house!!):

Feeding Time (Video link)

The weather outside has been VERY wet, so they have stayed inside. New toys are being introduced and they are having a blast. They are great prizes though, and the arguments have begun over who should have the best one. Granted, the best prize changes often.

Attack The Dragon (Video link)

When in doubt, mom or the nannies make a great jungle gym, although they are becoming increasingly less tolerant about the tail and ear tug of wars.

The toddler slide has been a big hit these days.

New Slide....Woo Hoo! (Video link)

At the end of the day (or at the start, or even middle!), the theory a worn out puppy is a well behaved puppy comes true. 

Turning Into Little Dogs

The puppies are having tons of fun exploring their world. They no longer weeble-wobble, but can get around and navigate their bodies well. That is when they aren't power napping!

Life is a constant state of eating, sleeping and playing. Life is good when you are a puppy. Ottie remains very tolerant of those sharp teeth.

A tired puppy is a well behaved puppy!!! A good tip for the next several months of their lives!

And then they wake up again and it starts all over.

Bite inhibition will start at 7 weeks, but in the meantime watch your fingers!!

They are having a ball interacting with the Adventure Box:

Adventure Time (video link)

It is designed to get them comfortable with being bumped from behind and introduce them to new sounds and textures. Meanwhile, their sound de-sensitization continues, much to our dismay (I am REALLY desensitized to household, traffic, construction, weather and all of the other noises at this point!)

Potty training is going well. They know where the bathroom is and make it about 80% of the time to the right area.

They are all pretty hip on snuggle time. As their play energy winds down, they start piling onto the nearest lap. It makes an excellent time for nail trims. 

At this point, they are all used to sleeping in their crate. They are quick to separate out their sleep space, though clearly, when the urge to sleep hits, it is similar to narcolepsy.

Shhhhh....it's nice and quiet. Keep tiptoeing around the house and no loud noises please.

Party Puppies

We have perfected the art of stealth walking around the house. Their ears pick up the hint of the most quiet foot step now.

They have started exploring their world (and each other) with their mouths. 

Exploring new worlds is very exhausting work though, so it's good they are such experts at the power nap!

As they get bigger, it's time to do some puppy room remodeling. The whelping box gets replaced with a sleeping den, the Adventure Box, room to romp and a puppy bathroom. There is room to grow as they get bigger. They go from 0 to 60 in a heartbeat when they first wake up. This video is taken after they have eaten and played and are winding down. They are deceptively calm and quiet here.

Playtime (video link)

The first meal of Puppy Smoothie was a huge hit and was gone in a hot second! Let the growing continue!!

A good meal is topped off by a little dessert at the milk bar.

The Adventure Box is introduced once the puppies have figured out how to work their legs, about 3-1/2 weeks. They learn to get bumped from behind, check out things that have different textures and sounds and learn to crawl over an unstable bar. They continue to listen to their Puppy Desensitization soundtrack and have their weekly pedicures. After just a few times, they are starting to figure out the location of their bathroom.

As the week has progressed, they are turning into some serious characters! We are still looking to see which boy is Wilson, a future service puppy. This is the fun stage, when their personalities start developing.

This girl is already perfecting her meerkat pose, something many of her aunts and uncles do routinely.

Growing up takes a lot of energy, so it's time to recharge again.

Houston, Eyes and Ears Have Opened

Puppy life is going well. Ottie continues to be an attentive mom to these monsters. As the week has progressed, pink noses have turned to black.

Ottie has enjoyed her playtime outside of the whelping room, but you will most often find her kicking back with the puppies.

They have become cuddle bugs. Nothing is better than some puppy time....it cures all that ails you.

Pedicures are so much easier when done during naptime.

Naps are still very high on the agenda for the day, and they are pros!

Eyes are open, ears are open and they are getting ready to party! They are finding their voices and having fun telling each other about it.

Puppies At The Milk Bar (video link)